Kazatomprom was successfully qualifed for the production of AFA 3G TM type A fuel assemblies, DKNews.kz reports.
JSC National Atomic Company “Kazatomprom” (“Kazatomprom”, “KAP” or the “Company) announces the successful completion of qualification process for production of AFA 3G TM type A fuel assemblies at Kazakh-Chinese Joint Venture Ulba-FA LLP, which produces nuclear fuel for Chinese nuclear power plants.
A document confirming the technical compliance of the product with all the mandatory quality requirements, norms and standards was provided by Framatome, holder of technology.
The work on qualification of fuel assemblies’ production started in March 2023 and was implemented in four stages. Professional, timely and high-quality implementation and supervision of the process was performed by the competent Ulba-FA divisions. As a result, the plant successfully receieved the confirmation on the quality of its products. The qualification allows the plant to produce AFA 3G TM type A fuel assemblies, in addition to AFA 3G TM AA fuel assemblies, thus expanding the product line.
In 2024 Kazatomprom plans to comission industrial production of AFA 3GTM type A fuel assemblies and supply a batch of fuel assemblies of the respective type to nuclear power plants in China.
The Ulba-FA plant allowed Kazatomprom to diversify its production, expanding its product line and producing advanced, export-oriented uranium products with a high added value.
A fuel assembly is a structure consisting of fuel rods filled with uranium pellets. These assemblies are used as the fuel for nuclear power plants. The uranium pellets for fuel assemblies are manufactured by UMP JSC.
The Ulba-FA plant, with a production capacity of 200 tons of uranium in the form of fuel assemblies per year, has a guaranteed sales market for 20 years ahead. The launch of innovative production allowed Kazakhstan to enter a limited circle of countries that produce and supply nuclear fuel for nuclear power plants.
